SURPRISE.

Transfer meeting....meet my beautiful companion...Sister Hansen!!!!! (:

Well, I am sure you are all so curious to know where I was transferred to this past Wednesday.  My move was close.  In fact, I now live in a house about one mile from the Boynton Home where I resided the past seven and a half months.  I live with two other companionships in the Hyrum Smith home (Joseph's brother).  My new companion is amazing!!!!  Sister (Carlie) Hansen from North Ogden, Utah.  She came out a year ago with Sister McAlister and Sister Manwaring.  There were ten sisters who all came out together.  Sister Hansen and I get along really well.  We are always laughing and smiling and happy.  I like that.  She has a genuine love for the people here.  She has a genuine love for the gospel.  I know there is a ton to learn from her.  Here is the surprise of the transfer situation...I am STILL in the Kirtland Ward!!!!!!!! (:  There are two sets of Sisters that serve in the Kirtland Ward...the Kirtland area, which is where I began my mission and Fairport Harbor, which is where I am now.  It is rare to be transferred within the same ward.  But it happened!  And I am happy.

JONES!!!

Last Tuesday night, we taught a few lessons and said a few good-byes, as we thought I would be getting shipped out to Timbuktu.  The Jones...of course.  (They went to the temple for the first time on Saturday!! And had a really great experience, too!!!!!!)  Carl and Tricia Jurrus had us over for dinner, too.  They are the cutest little newlyweds who I adore!!  Carl was baptized three(ish) years ago and served a mission to the France Paris Mission.  Tricia served a mission at Temple Square.  Both are amazing.  We take them teaching with us often.  Anyways, dinner was great.  Homemade quiche and soup.  And Nutella with cornbread for dessert.  The part of dinner I loved most was that Courtney (remember her from my last email?) was there with her friend Megan!  These girls are so great.  We had a discussion about Jesus Christ and His role.  Tricia and Carl were both able to share their experiences in how they came to find out He is real.  So...after the lesson and dinner, we said our goodbyes!!!  I was sad to leave them.  Carl and Tricia sang us a song in France and gave a nice "Farewell, Sister Spring" speech.  Well, I come to find out later that Tricia KNEW I would be in the ward.  That little punk.  She played it off well.

Megan, Courtney, me,  Carl, Tricia

I love my new area.  They have been teaching a couple in their late 40's, early 50's.  They are incredible.  I have watched their happiness increase as they have come to church and learned more about Christ's restored gospel.  They are preparing to be baptized on August 6th.  SO NEAT!



We had lunch with Sister Tomlinson on Friday...it was amazing!! She owns a gourmet pizza joint.  (: and look at her beautiful back yard, too!!!!



Saturday Sister Hansen and I had a dinner appointment in an apartment complex where four or so young couples from our ward live.  So, trying to be logical, we set up an appointment with a new family in our ward that lives there as well so we can get to know them a little bit.  Well, silly me, I forgot to ask there apartment number.  So...I realize this around 330...appointment at 415.  We call.  No answer.  By 4 o'clock we were at the apartment complex and still no word.  We resort to our back up: talk with people at the complex that are outside...(contacting).  Contacting used to terrify me.  But I love it now.  Anyways, we talked with so many people in this gigantic apartment community (kind of like your apartment complex, Stephen and Lauren.)  We found a few people that want to meet with us again...so yay.  God is really in charge.  It worked out perfectly.  The hour flew by and then it was dinner time.

Last night....we were exhausted. Long, hard, amazing week!

Well, that's all I will blabber about today.  I could go on and on and on.  I love my life!!  I am witnessing so many miracles.

Hopefully life is well for all of you.

Love Love Love.

Sister Spring

**(Below is part of her email to me, Mom)**

Let me share an experience with you....

Before transfer meeting, we bring our cars in to be inspected.  So, Sister Carver and I are casually doing the inspection for our car.  My hands are pretty greasy.  I am feeling anxious for my new area.  I have a clipboard and pen in my hands.  When I see out of the corner of my eye, President Sorensen approaching me.  I smile at him.  He sticks out his hand for a shake.  I kindly inform him of the mess on my hands.  He gives me a nice "elbow tap" instead.  Then he says..."Sister Spring, I would just like to let you know that we will be announcing you as the new Training Sister at this meeting.  Will you accept that call?"  (Training Sister is a role of leadership at the Visitors' Center. We prepare training meetings, schedules, resolve concerns.  Basically we are the sites directors assistants.  Hopefully thatmakes sense....I know you hate when I say that...sorry! )  Anyways, I said yes without thinking.  And he walked away.  Myfirst thoughts...YES I am still in the same ward.  YES I know my companion will be Sister HAnsen and I will love her.  YES JONES FAMILY!...then the panic...oh no...responsiblity.  What will the other Sisters think? I am still a baby!!! I have no idea what I am doing out here. lalalalalla.  So far I have survived.

 I just thought you might like to know that. (:

See you Later, Kirtland...

(Note from  Sister Spring's mom, Brittie Spring.
Sister Spring has been transferred but her mailing address is the same. Her email day, AKA "P-Day" is currently Tuesday's.  It may change again with the transfer.  She would love a note from her friends. A simple "Hi, I remember you" on a postcard is all that's needed.  Missionaries don't have much time for writing.  They only write on their "P-Day" which is a personal day to buy groceries, do laundry, write letters and any other personal thing that needs to be done and they only have from about 10:00 am until 6:00 pm on that day.  All other days they are busy until bedtime at 10pm or 10:30.  Nighttime, after returning home around 9pm, is when they write reports for the current day and make their schedule for the next day.  Please know that Sister Spring appreciates letters, but you may only receive one letter (lucky if you get 2) from her during her entire mission. It doesn't mean she isn't grateful.  As her mother, I thank you for your prayers and support.  This post is long as it is 2 weeks of emails.                                                                                                                                                        

See you Later, Kirtland...

The Newel K. Whitney Store.  They are redoing the siding on one of the buildings on sites.  Well, when we are on tour we tell people that about 80 percent of the building is original in structure.  And I never really believed it...to be honest...BUT here is the original part of the store.  Pretty cool.

Hello my sweeeeeeeeeeet family.

Yup, you guessed it.  Another great week!!!  I still love my life.

District 6

Let's start with the young lady.  Remember her...the tracting experience from last week?  Well, we finally met with her on Wednesday.  (Wow, was that really almost a week ago!!)  A young lady from the Cleveland Singles Ward, Gina, came with us.  It was perfect.  Gina was baptized almost two years ago, I think?  Anyways, we were there getting to know this young lady a little bit.  This girl has my heart.  Heavenly Father is aware of her needs.  Last year when the missionaries came in to her life, she was going through a difficult phase.  And now, she is having a hard time dealing with a friendship that ended abruptly.  God is reaching out to her.  We talked a lot about God's love.  She already had a copy of the Book of Mormon.  Through a personal experience, I was able to explain the peace and love that is felt through daily study of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  We promised her that she could feel that in her life.  Towards the end of our meeting, we invited her to be baptized.  It was literally like her face lit up as she accepted and said, "I have been wanting to change."  We all have the ability to change.  Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ we all have the opportunity to have that "fresh" start.  It's amazing.

We went to help Sister Boucher move a few Monday's ago. 

Speaking of fresh starts....Brother Koshar was baptized on Friday!  Gosh, it was so great.  Brother Koshar "gets" the gospel.  He has been meeting with missionaries for three-ish years, but that is not why he gets it.  We all have experiences that, if we allow, will help us recognize God's mercy and love and reality.  That has definitely occurred for Brother Koshar as he has danced with death a few times the last couple of years.  At baptisms, the missionaries generally give a "presentation."  As Sister Carver and I were talking in the classroom at the Kirtland building, my heart was so full of happiness.



BROTHER KOSHARS BAPTISMMMM!!!!!  Seriously a miracle.

These two people and their different experiences of coming closer to God help my life be full.  Why?  Because I know how much happiness is in store for them.  I have experienced the reality of the atonement in my life.  I have seen my attitude, my perspective, my direction change (all for the better) as I have accepted Heavenly Fathers way. 

I have had a good 5 transfer run here in Kirtland.

That is 30 weeks.

210 days.  This has become my home.

I could go on and on about the various different events that have happened while I have been in this ward.  Mission farewells, mission homecomings, baptisms, engagements, weddings, mission calls, move-in's, move-out's.....with much more to these stories, as always. 

Alas, I am leaving this place.  It is exciting and scary and saddening and exuberating....all rolled up in one.  As a missionary, I have never experienced a new area.  Kirtland is all I know.  Yes, my mission has...for lack of more clever wording...had its ups and downs.  But it has been perfect.  Exactly what I needed.  Full.

Some Volleyballing at the Community of Christ picnic last Monday.  So funTonight will be a wonderful way to conclude my time in Kirtland.  We are meeting with sweet, Bonnie, who is devastated that I am leaving.  It will be hard to say bye to her...but good.  She needs some new faces. Then we are having dinner with this cute young couple, Carl and Tricia, who invited Courtney to come, too.  SOOO GOOOD!  And then, of course, the Jones family for a final farewell.  (How's that for an alliteration?)

JONES DINNER with Mimi and the Suarez's.

I am up for an adventure.  Let go and let God...right

I love you!!!

Sister Spring

PS.  Just a reminder, I will always receive mail that comes to this address: 7800 Kirtland-Chardon Rd. Kirtland, OH 44094 (:

PPS.  I, again, apologize for the delay in letter response.  I still have to pack...and clean...and be at Bonnies in 2 hours...Yikes, bikes!

Some Volleyballing at the Community of Christ  Church picnic last Monday.  So fun.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Note from Mom:  The post below is from last week, Monday JUNE 13, 2011.  No pictures were sent.

Title:  Let me tell you about a miracle...

Hihihihi!!!!!!!  I love you!

So I do not have a lot of time today. (C-R-A-Z-Y P-Day)

There is a story I would like to share.  It starts on Friday night. June 10th.

You see, each evening around 9 o'clock Sister Carver and I sit at our kitchen table to plan out the following day.  We were struggling to fill our time Saturday.  Turns out, there are not very many people that want to meet with us right now.  We are in "finding mode."  Yes, that means there is some door knocking going on.  After filling our time with stop-by's to people we are teaching and two set up appointments, we started with some back-ups....just in case.  There is a giant map on our wall which shows the area we are serving in.  I showed Sister Carver the area we would be in the next day and asked her to pick a street near there to tract.  Her choice: Eaglewood.  About one o'clock we began to tract this street.  Before going any further in the story, I must make a confession.  I was in an awful mood.  We had stopped by the home of a man in our ward who is, for lack of better words, going of the deep end a little bit.  He was not home.  It has been a couple of weeks since he has returned our phone calls.  My heart was aching for him.  (He was at church yesterday!!! YAYYYYY!!!!)  Then we had stopped by another woman who a woman in our ward had asked us to stop by.  We explained our purpose.  She politely declined.  I felt like I had failed the Sister in our ward.  Then Satan tried to weasel in to my mind.  "Sister Spring, come on.  You don't really like being this intrusive on people's lives.  lalalallalaSatan."  Good thing our back up was tracting....another way to "intrude".  I took a couple deep breaths.  We said a prayer together.  Combined with the silent conversation I was having with Heavenly Father, I mustered up the will to rock Eaglewood.

  And good thing, too!!!  We knocked plenty of doors, talked to some really nice uninterested people.  I love the people in Ohio.  A lot of them will at least give us a minute or two and send us away with a smile.  One man we talked with was really great.  He does not believe in God.  Like...at all.  And that's his choice to make.  I found him really admirable though.  He says his kid learns about God from other children at school, comes home to tell his Dad what he has heard, and his Dad just smiles and nods.  He does not want to skew his thinking.  Mom and Dad, I know you are like that too with me and Stephen.  Shoot, I think we are all like that, if I do say so myself.  We have a good family.  So we are coming to the last two houses on the street before we were to head to the Koshars.  It has been pretty uneventful.  Then...BAM...Courtney comes out of nowhere.  We were walking down the road and I see this young girl (18 maybe?) on the phone getting ready to hop in her car.  I kept thinking, "I just want to talk to that girl.  I want to talk to her so bad."  I even vocalized this desire to Sister Carver.  We awkwardly stood a decent distance away debating what we should do.  Then she confronted us with a simple, "Hello! "  We responded with a similar greeting.  Then awkwardly stood some more because she was on the phone and I still felt like I wanted to talk to her!!  She finally did the work for us.  With someone still on the other line, she lowered her phone and said, "You are from the Mormon Church...right?"  Yes, yes we are.  We talked for a few minutes, obtained her phone number, and said we would be calling her soon.  Turns out she had been meeting with missionaries a year or so ago but for some reason they stopped coming/calling.  I don't know all the details but hey, MIRACLE.  Heavenly Father is so involved in our lives.  We picked that street the night before.  We started tracting on the certain part of the street where her house is located.  She was outside at just the right time. 

Heavenly Father wants us to be happy.  He gives us little signs to show us He is aware of our situations.  The rest of that day was amazing, too.  Right after our tracting experience, we had a lesson with Brother Koshar(Yes, he is still getting baptized this Friday!).  We talked about the term conversion, specifically in regards to a conversion to God.  Together we recognized that it is a change and that it is a process.  I love this word.  I find myself asking myself, "What can I do to be more converted each day?"  It's an interesting question to keep in mind.  The Koshar's grilled burgers for us and sent us on our way.  We concluded the day at sites.  Two tours, one really late dinner....it was amazing.  I love my life.

I hope you love yours too.

I love you!

XOXOXOXOX

Sister Spring

HELLLLLLLLO

Famfam.

What is going on?  I sure do love you.  And I sure do love my life.  Are you sick of me saying that yet?  Hopefully not.  I plan to continue to say it. (:

What a week.  It was long and short all at the same time.  Yes, I am still trying to figure out how that is possible. Or if it even makes sense.  Summer has finally arrived.  Thank goodness.  Schools are getting out around here, and all over the country, which is great for both parts of my missionary work.  More people will be coming to the sites.  That is nice.  I love taking people around these sites.  They are beautiful.  Even more than that I love talking about Christ and the Saint's faith in Him.  It is amazing how everything around us can teach us lessons about this crazy life.  I mean EVERYTHING. And summer also means people are coming out of hibernation.  And they are happier.  And I like summer.

Do you remember Brother Dave?  I have talked about him a few times.  Think back to December...I sent an email talking about a man married to a member, and we set a baptismal date with him for June 17th.  Guess what!?  It is almost June 17th!!  And Brother Dave will be baptized!  This man is amazing.  The past several months have consisted of quitting smoking, being diagnozed with cancer, Chemo and radiation treatments, a new granddaughter, crazy busy schedule, and everything else that life entails.  He is SO ready to make this step of baptism.  Everytime we see him he is BEAMING.  The faith of this man is inspiring.  Seriously.

My teenager seems to be dodging us a little bit...We talk with her basically every day but we only saw her once this week.  She came in to the Visitors Center to watch a movie about the current prophet, President Monson.  Her and her friend loved it.  Unfortunately we have yet to see either of them again this week.  No fear.  We will see her soon.  This girl is the greatest.  Still amazing and I still love her!

Today we helped a woman clean her house.  Some of the others Sisters have been teaching her.  She is preparing to be baptized.  But will wait until she arrives back home in Oregon to do so.  Again, another amazing person I have been blessed to know.  She has been a practicing Muslim for the past seven years.  One day she was driving by the Kirtland Temple and recognized it from a picture she had seen somewhere.  She then drove by the sites and had a desire to stop there.  So she did.  This woman really loves God.  Her life has been spent exploring what He wants her to do.  She is very serious and careful about this search, as she should be.  Anyways, over the past four or five months she has come to know Christ.  It has been amazing to see her grow.  Truly happiness radiates from her. 

These people seriously have my heart.  I wish I could just tell you allllll about them and everyone else we are teaching.  Some day.

In the mean time, just love them because you know I love them.  They are worth all the love...I promise. 

XOXOXOXO

Sister Spring

P.S. To those of you who have so kindly written me: I LOVE YOU!  (: Please forgive me for slacking in my letter response time lately.  Preparation Day's tend to be invaded (willingly) by other activities and teaching and service opportunities.  I am working on letters though.  Truth.

SUMMER!

Mi Familia!!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day!  Mine was good!  Sister Carver and I were at the Visitors' Center in the morning.  We had three appointments set up with some members from our ward in the evening that we have been trying to see for a couple of weeks....all of them cancelled.  Such is life.  We did get to visit a woman in rehab that was baptized a year or so ago. She (and her family) lives two hours away...needless to say, she was happy to see us.  In the evening, we had a big dinner at sites with all of the sites Sisters and the senior couples.  I love my life.



Cook out at the sites





Me and my sisters!

One night I was talking with the sisters I live with in our living room.  The conversation, as always, was revolving around our individual mission experiences.  Someone posed the question, "What is your favorite part of the mission?"  Honestly, I do not remember my exact answer...something about meeting people, loving them, and seeing lives change.  Sister Everson's answer has had me thinking all week.  Her favorite part is that Heavenly Father gives us the opportunity to feel a portion of how He feels for people.  It is so true.  And so amazing.  Take the lady we visited in rehab, for example.  The moment I saw that woman walking out of the elevator, keep in mind I had never seen this woman before, I felt so happy for her.  I was overwhelmed with joy seeing the courage she has to change.  I instantly loved her.  I mean it.  Obviously, I do not know what it is like to be a parent but I imagine it is similar.  Sometimes I feel like I am losing my brain trying to keep up with the to-do lists for the people we are teaching.  Don't forget to call one at 7:15 so she can be at church on time.  Does this one have a ride?  Is Brother X home from chemo treatment yet...can we call him now?  Brother Y needs to reschedule...again.  Brother Z is reaching out to us...he needs help spiritually...what are we going to do for him?  My heart literally aches for these people when they hurt.  I just love them so much.  That's why I think it is comparable to being a parent.  Correct me if I am wrong. (: 


Generations.  Sister Everson who trained Sister McAlister.  Sister McAlister who trained me.  And me..who trained nobody. (:  Sister Everson goes home in three weeks....noooooooooo.

Another example of this instant love I feel for people because Heavenly Father is allowing it.  Well, I was calling a man from sites.  His sister had come to visit Kirtland and asked that we call her brother, a member of the church, and his wife, not a member of the church.  So I did.  He answered.  We had our introductions, I explained my purpose, he was kind.  I asked if I had called at a bad time...."Uh...yeah, kind of actually.  We just had our first baby!"  Okay...My heart melted.  I was giddy with excitement for this new family.  The embarrassing part?  As hard as I tried, I could not contain it....congratulating at least eight times.  I love him and his family.  I want them to be happy!


Lucy!  Remember her dad Jason was baptized in March! So cute.



It has been an interesting week.  Hard but good.  The young woman's baptism has been postponed.  The mother suggested that she waits until some family issues are resolved.  She is struggling with that (obviously).  This girl is on fire though.  She loves Heavenly Father and has a sincere desire to follow Jesus Christ.  Amazing.

    Well....We are at a different library this week with a time limit...Yes, my time is short.  But I love you.  And so does Heavenly Father.  That is what I hope you remember above anything else.  Got it?

            Sister Spring



Sister Carver and I at Pioneer School